The George, Provincial Land, p.Ollier Smurthwaite

The site is located in a housing growth area. Credit: via Ollier Smurthwaite Architects

Provincial plans 15-storey Stockport resi 

The George pub on the corner of Wellington Road North and Heaton Lane in the town centre is to be redeveloped into a 72-apartment scheme. 

Closed since 2017, the pub would be demolished under the proposals, put forward by Altrincham-based developer Provincial Land. 

The Stockport scheme is understood to be Provincial’s largest residential development to date. The developer’s other schemes include housing schemes in Sale and Newcastle-under-Lyme. 

The proposed 15-storey Stockport development would occupy a prominent site in the town centre next to the Beckwith House office building and Stockport Travelodge. 

Designed by Ollier Smurthwaite Architects, the project proposes coworking space on the lower floors. The building is designed so that each of the apartments would be dual-aspect, according to the architect. 

The George , Provincial Land, p.Ollier Smurthwaite

Each apartment would feature a winter garden. Credit: via Ollier Smurthwaite Architects

In addition, Matt Ollier, director at OS Architects, said all of the apartments would benefit from winter gardens, a feature aimed at reducing noise from nearby roads. 

“The scheme will set a new benchmark for quality in Stockport with all dwellings designed to Passivhaus principles,” he added. 

A planning application for the development will be submitted in the coming weeks. 

Paul Butler Associates is advising Provincial on planning matters. 

The scheme is the latest residential project to come forward in Stockport town centre and is located in a housing growth area. 

Nearby developments include Capital&Centric’s Weir Mill, the redevelopment of the former Stockport bus station – which includes 196 homes – and Stockport 8, a 1,000-home neighbourhood to be delivered by the English Cities Fund. 

Your Comments

Read our comments policy

Lovely stuff! A design that wouldn’t look out of place in Ancoats – more of this for all the satellite towns of Manchester (plus winter gardens, a lovely touch but no doubt one or two of the usual sorts will soon be here to drop the ‘b’ word..)

By Anonymous

Well something needs to happen with that site.

By Oliver Queen

Some of the old school locals will be up in arms, wielding their pitchforks at the scale of this proposal but it’s absolutely right for that location, one of the lowest points in Stockport’s hilly topography and next to the Travelodge which is one of Stockport’s largest buildings.

By Topo

This is not Manchester stop trying to make it like a city it’s a town just let it be it’s self

By Anonymous

Looks great, beautifully slender proportions. I wonder if it includes twin escape stairs / over 30m / Fire Saftey Act?

By Practical

anonymous 3.58 – Stockport is thriving because of its proximity to Manchester. Parochial thinking will get us nowhere.

By Anonymous

Brilliant. I think this is quite in keeping actually. Let Manchester do the extra tall stuff and push boundaries.

By Anonymous

Another step in the right direction, Stockport centre was once a ghost town, now it’s the most vibrant part of town as it should be.

By Pablo

Stockport Council have been pushing for Stockport to become a City for a long time so it’s not surprising these high rise buildings are popping up all over the Borough.

By Anonymous

Stockport needs to be careful it doesn’t turn into Manchester’s Croydon. This seems to happening.

By Elephant

What a fantastic idea this would look very nice and this is what we need homes

By Dale hart

What a great design! Love the way the arches mirror the viaduct, the scale of the windows, as well as all the environmental considerations. Would really improve this part of Stockport. Get it built!

By Anonymous

Two people per apartment 72 apartments = 144 cars where do they park ??

By Steve Connolly

This is certainly not in keeping with this area. We are going to become town of high rise dwellings. We have such a lot of wonderful history on our wonderful town which is certainly being overlooked. These buildings are going up willy nilly, where ever our crazy council think they can put them. Once they are up there is no going back. We have such a lot of wonderful old mills in Stockport that can be turned into apartments without these crazy high rise that do not fit in to the areas mentioned. Please think very carefully about what you are building and where you are building. You are going to really obscure our view if our wonderful Viaducts which we as Stopfordians really cherish So as you can guess from my comments I really object to whats being built. A born and bred Stockport resident who is very proud of her town

By A proud Stopfordian

Where are the solar panels? Ground source heat from deep beneath the air raid shelters maybe?

By Anonymous

I wonder what the pollution levels are in all the housing being built next to the motorway. And there’s a serious bid to build a hospital in the area as well.

By Anonymous

Dreadful! Too tall. Unresolved base to tower. Clunky top. Yet another way to hide the Grade II* listed viaduct and to hide the town from trains. No urban design sense.

By John Fidler RIBA-SCA

I hope this building will blend into the surrounding area of Stockport, Built as the town once was in red brick not glass or cheap cladding like the red rock.

By Phil Thorley

Beautiful, elegant design. Kudos to the Architect. Hope this can be delivered to a quality finish.

By Lorelle

We don’t need HOMES, we need SHOPS !!!

By Joanna Carrington

How many more flats, apartments, houses are being built in the square and who can afford them. What about getting more shops in the area

By Margaret Westwood

Steve Connolly why would people need two cars if they live in a town centre right next to a train station?

By Anonymous

Will the A6 and Heaton Lane have to be fully or partially closed for the duration of the build to allow scaffolding and cranes to operate?

By Tony Marsh

Great to see the ambition in Stockport – keep up the good work!

By Anonymous

Ghastly, an ugly development, totally out of proportion in this part of Stockport. Yet another carbuncle fir Stockport.

By Roy G Chapman

So many people above with proper ‘Stockport’ attitudes… people need bigger vision!

By manc

Oliver Smurthwaite’s designs are looking very samey! They need to start mixing it up a bit

By Steve

To Anonymous who questioned Steve Connelly about 2 car families. The reason being is there is so little in the way of shopping in Stockport any more. Have you ever tried to get your weekly/monthly shop on/off a train/bus? Do you want to return one half of a partnership to the 1950s, shopping for food every day because that’s all you can carry?
And why limit the independence of one half of a partnership by restricting their movements to where the other half go.
Trains are pretty useless at the moment. So are busses. So are the shops in SK1. Who would want to live there without a way of getting out when need arises?

By Chris Wainwright

I am old school, I am a pensioner and I think that design looks great, and a big improvement on the eye sore currently there. Hopefully do something with the derelict Ups & Downs old Wellington as well. We have plenty of heritage stuff in Stockport but we need to move on for the future as there is a massive shortage of housing, both social and private rentals and sales. Many people want to live in towns and cities as convenient for work and leisure. Would like to see what the winter garden plan is too.

By Anonymous

People will want a car so that they can go places, very simple

By DH

This development does not “hide” the viaduct as if you look at the current building (The George pub) you can NOT see the viaduct from there! People forever saying it hides the viaduct which is 547 metres long and visible along most of it from the town centre, and visible along all of it from the motorway.

By Anonymous

Why do so many presume all people in apartments have cars? Many people who choose to live within a city or town centre do so because they have great public transport, can walk to work or leisure and do not want to even own a car. Yes I own a car but I choose to live in the suburbs and am considering down sizing and living closer to leisure and great public transport is becoming more and more attractive for the future.

By Anonymous

@‘DH’
‘People will want a car so that they can go places, very simple’

People can *hire* a car so that they can go places, very simple. Also, very simple to walk to the railway station here. Or enjoy Stockport Old Town.

By SW

@June 28, 2023 at 11:46 am
By Anonymous

I agree. Can I add that it would also be great to see different generations living in town centres? Also, helps with the loneliness epidemic.

@Steve

Granted, this may not be one of OSA’s better designs – but I still think this is very good indeed and better than most recent Stockport proposals.
I do feel though that we need more great ‘ordinary’ architecture – and OSA are doing this better and with more wit than most.

By SW

A superb addition to Stockport and a design of real quality using quality materials. This is great for Stockport and shows a real commitment to the ongoing growth of the town. More like this please!

By Andrew

Really well located for sustainable transport links.
Now we just need a protected cycleway along the A6 to go with it.

By Active Travel Trev

@ Elephant

What do you mean with regards to Croydon?

By Genuine Question

Beggars cant be choosers

By Anonymous

At last something is being done with the derelict George pub. It was always likely to be offices or apartments otherwise no developer would be interested in developing the site/eyesore.

By Paul W

A step in the right direction – now how about extending Metrolink into Stockport to regenerate the area ?

By Francis

June 28, 2023 at 12:19 pm By SW

Isn’t there an existing car club, run by Enterprise if I recall correctly, covering the town centre and which residents of new developments are given the option to subscribe to? Why would you go to the cost of owning your own car when you can walk/cycle or use public transport for many journeys, because of how well located your home is, and have the option of a (much cheaper than ownership) car-club car for other journeys. This is the 21st century – using an app to locate, book and access the nearest available car club car is almost as easier, and a darn sight cheaper, than paying to run your own car.

By Gethin

@Gethin

I totally agree.

By SW

Blimey. A genuinely interesting design! Get it up.

By Tom

WHY WHY WHY…why are developers obsessed with building UGLY high rise monstrosities. WHY is Stockport Council even considering this. Our town centre does NOT need this.

By TP

If Stockport had any ambition it would be at least 30 storeys here

By Giant Skyscraper Fan

You can talk about making flats/apartments all you want and how the council says it will be great for Stockport but we all know that they’re going to be private housing and not council housing which Stockport desperately needs.

By Graham Brindley

I really like this development. The arches work well with the viaduct arches in the background. Perfect place for high density living, with excellent public transport options nearby (Bus Interchange, Train Station and future Metrolink) plus local retail, restaurants and pubs.

By Jo

Fantastic modern design with contemporary nods to heritage structures. I see all the NIMBYS are moaning about progression. Maybe the moans and groans about viaduct obstruction don’t recall the very large building behind this new proposal that already blocks the view or maybe that’s me just being picky

By Anonymous

Looks fantastic, much improved on the current “view” of the concrete tower, no idea what anyone is on about blocking the view of the viaduct! Much better to build here than more sprawl for much needed houses. Super accessible location too, no need for much parking!

By Heaton Chapel

Related Articles

Sign up to receive the Place Daily Briefing

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox

Subscribe

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.